London is facing a growing risk of preventable disease outbreaks,
the London Assembly Health
Committee has warned, after a
surge in measles cases linked to low vaccination uptake.
An extraordinary committee evidence session on the measles
outbreak found vaccination rates in London are just 70%, well
below the level needed to prevent outbreaks. There have been 167
measles cases in 2026 so far, with the majority in Enfield, where
vaccine uptake is just 64%. Around one in five cases has
required hospital treatment, with infections largely among
unvaccinated children. Experts warned similar risks are emerging
across other diseases.
Following the meeting, the Committee has written to the
Mayor of London and the Secretary
of State for Health and Social Care, urging them to
consider how they can support boroughs with low vaccination
uptake to deliversustained, localised vaccination
campaigns.
The Committee is also calling for improved data
sharing to boost uptake.
Chair of the London Assembly Health Committee, AM, said:
“Measles is one of the most infectious diseases we know, yet
it is preventable with a safe and highly effective vaccine. What
we are seeing in London should set alarm bells ringing as
vaccination rates are amongst the lowest in the country, and as a
result, preventable outbreaks are becoming inevitable rather than
exceptional."
"We heard clearly from health leaders that this situation is
not unexpected. When coverage drops, diseases like measles, and
increasingly others such as meningitis, exploit those gaps
quickly, particularly in dense urban areas and communities facing
deprivation."
"While the response on the ground has been strong, we cannot
keep relying on emergency catch-up campaigns. We need sustained,
targeted action to rebuild routine vaccination coverage, improve
access in communities, and ensure no child falls through the
cracks. Without that shift, London will remain exposed to
repeated outbreaks that put children's health and lives at
risk.”
Notes for editors:
-
Read the letter in
full.
